EVERTON are ready to fly out to Portugal to offer Wayne Rooney the biggest contract in the club's history.

EVERTON are ready to fly out to Portugal to offer Wayne Rooney the biggest contract in the club's history.

The striker has two years remaining on his current deal but Blues chiefs are eager to secure the 18-year-old to a five-year contract.

Rooney's representatives have been stalling on entering contract negotiations, aware that the player's stock is sure to rise after the forthcoming tournament in Portugal.

Everton are willing to offer the player a new deal which will reflect his status as one of the world's best young players and have not ruled out flying to Portugal to conclude talks.

Chief executive Trevor Birch said: "We have always made clear our desire to see Wayne Rooney commit his long-term future to this football club and, to that end, we would be happy to open talks with the player and his representatives about a new contract at any point.

"Indeed, we are anxious to do just that. Although Wayne is currently in Portugal with the England squad we would be perfectly happy to open those negotiations during the course of the European Championships."

Rooney's current contract pays him #13,000-a-week and is stepped to rise every season. The club have imposed a wage ceiling of #20,000 a week on new deals, but are willing to break through that ceiling for Rooney.

Any new deal is likely to double his current earnings and will rise over the course of the five-year deal.

It will be stepped to rise as the player develops and could eventually be worth up to #8m.

Everton are keen to avoid a situation where the player will begin the season without having agreed a new contract.

If that proves to be the case and Rooney's contract ticks down the club will have to consider offers next summer, as they will want to avoid the player leaving at the end of his contract in 2006 - even though his age would mean the club would recoup a tribunal transfer fee.